No Reason to Panic.

22 March 2016

As most of you know, I am passionate about transforming healthcare
in Africa. I’m passionate about helping
people. In a few conversations recently I was asked
something along the lines of “what do you want to do?” and my answer was help people… do something that means
something… bring life and hope… make a difference.

So almost a year ago I was accepted to the University of Liverpool Masters in Public Health program – an internationally known program
at one of the world’s top universities. I want to be able to help people even better, develop the knowledge and skills to have a
greater impact and build world class programs.
As I said in my blog back then, I really wanted to do it… but only if it
was right, and best, and blessed by God.
Because if it isn’t? Working a demanding job and being in grad school at
the same time while flying all over the place, if it wasn’t right… well, I wasn’t
interested.

The first fleece was getting in – which I did. The second? Getting
the first year funded. Which it was.

So I’ve spent the last eight and a half months balancing
graduate level studies with a crazy job/crazy life. And? I have really, really enjoyed it. I love
learning. I love challenging my intellect and stretching my understanding and opening
my mind to new possibilities and ideas and ways of doing things. It has come with plenty of challenges;
namely, my social life has dwindled to nearly non-existent. But it’s a sacrifice that I think is worth
it; I’ve been able to apply what I have learned very quickly and already we are
seeing some of the fruit of this endeavor!

So I mentioned the first year got funded. Well… not exactly. The first five modules got
funded, which often takes people a year.
And they call it an ‘annual payment plan’ – which to me, means,
yearly. So I had it in my head that I
didn’t need to worry about coming up with another big payment until July. Well, just a few days ago I was going through
paperwork and planning out how my study schedule will line up with the projects
and programs we are developing for Benin next year, and saw the line that said
second payment is due before unit 5.
Which I will start in May. So
that got me a little bit nervous, but with still two months to go I wasn’t
panicking. No reason to panic, right?

Well… I got a bill yesterday. And they tell me it is due on
April 7. Like, three weeks. And it is
for $8,200. Oops. Gulp.

No reason to panic.

I’m appealing to the university for the date – it clearly
says it’s due before unit 5 which starts for me in MID-MAY but as of now they
have yet to respond. And the due date in
fact doesn’t diminish the fact that soon, whether it is in three or nine weeks,
I will owe the University of Liverpool over $8k.

(The third payment, of the same amount, will be due before I
start my dissertation research, April of 2017)

Last year I had one donor give half the amount, and a few other
generous donors cover the rest. It was
so easy and smooth and it was like, why on earth was I nervous? So I am telling myself the same this
year. Except the donor who gave half
will not be giving this year. (no reason
to panic). And most of the other
generous donors were anonymous. So I don’t even know who to ask!

So, I’m inviting you all into this – my ask is this – will you
consider helping me fund my Masters in Public Health, so I can keep helping people, better? I don’t need
it to be able to help people, I know that.
I just want to use the gifts and abilities that I have to the best I can
and right now I really believe that includes this – feeding my intellect, my
thirst for knowledge, my hunger for more ways
and ideas and credibility in the field.
If I were to want to do this thing that I do with any other
organization, an MpH is usually a base requirement.

Feel free to pass on my request to anyone else who might have
means and a special love for education. I’m
desperately debt-averse and am not interested in taking out loans. (it took a whole lot of work to get to be
debt free... and I am a volunteer... gracious donations cover my living expenses only) Donations can be made to my Mercy Ships
account (banner on the right side of this page or link below) and those are tax
deductible for you but I do have to pay taxes on that ‘income’ so not all of it
will go to my schooling. I also have
bank accounts in WA and MN states and am happy to email bank transfer
information or addresses of helpful friends/family in those places that can
make a deposit for me... I also have paypal... I can also give
you the information for the bursary of the University of Liverpool
directly. So there are options. And if
you don’t like any of those, but still want to support me in this endeavor,
please do just contact me and we can figure something out.

I know there is so much need in the world. I see it every single day. I know you all see gofundme requests and
donation letters and more and more need in the world and everyone wants to have
your money. All of that is real, and
hard. I see it. I know it.
I wish I could help everyone, too.
And I am doing what I can do.

Thanks for your consideration and please don’t hesitate to
contact me with any questions!

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About Me

Currently blogging from Cambridge, Massachusetts

Disclaimer:

This is my personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views and opinions of any organization or institution with which I am currently or was once affiliated. This includes but is not limited to Mercy Ships, Harvard University, University of Liverpool, Peace Corps, or the US Government.